'I won't close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future,' former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said in an interview that aired Sunday.

(CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she would consider a run for president in 2012 if the situation was right for her family and the nation.

In an interview recorded Saturday and broadcast on "FOX News Sunday," Palin said she would run "if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family."

"I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country," Palin said, later adding: "I won't close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future."

The interview was recorded before her keynote address Saturday night at what was billed as the first national Tea Party convention. Palin, who had little national profile before running unsuccessfully for vice president on Sen. John McCain's Republican ticket in 2008, remains a leading GOP draw and an unofficial symbol of the Tea Party movement of conservative discontent with government.
The convention, which concluded with a dinner and Palin speech that cost more than $500 per ticket, was intended to begin transforming the Tea Party movement into a political force capable of influencing elections, organizers said.

"It's so inspiring to see real people - not politicos, inside-the-beltway professionals - come out, stand up and speak out for common sense conservative principles," Palin said in her speech to a crowd that gave her repeated standing ovations.

Calling the Tea Party movement a "ground-up call to action that is forcing both parties to change the way they're doing business," Palin said "America is ready for another revolution and you are a part of this."

In the interview with Fox, Palin said she believed President Barack Obama would lose a re-election bid in 2012 if he fails to change the policies followed so far in just over a year in office.

If Obama "continues on the path that he has American on today," Palin said, "he's not going to win.

"That's what a lot of Americans are telling him today, and he's not listening," Palin said. "Instead, he's telling everybody else, 'Listen up and I'll tell you the way it is.' Well, we have a representative form of government in our democracy. And we want him and we want Congress to listen to what the things are that we are saying."

In her speech, Palin cited the upset victory by Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy as evidence of the popular discontent over Obama's policies.

She called on the administration to take note of the election results, saying "you better stop lecturing and start listening."

"The Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda will leave us less secure, more in debt and under the thumb of big government," Palin said in reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Many of those attending the convention at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center said they are big Palin supporters.

Pam Silleman, a 52-year-old small business owner and Tea Party activist who traveled to the convention from California's Napa Valley, called Palin "the Tea Party's inspiration."

Asked if Palin should make a bid for the White House, Silleman said, "I would like to see her in a higher office but I don't know that she'll do it. I wouldn't want her to be hurt that bad."

Fremont Brown, a supporter who had "Palin 2012" bumper stickers with him, said Palin is "the right person."

"She has fervent heart and she's conservative," added the 59-year-old Brown, who owns a small business in North Carolina. "She was the only one truly qualified with executive experience of the four who ran in 2008. The others were glorified lobbyists."

But Palin's experience has frequently been called into question, most recently in a book that chronicles the 2008 campaign. "Game Change" by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann largely portrays the then-vice presidential candidate as wholly unprepared for the national stage and poorly versed in a range of pressing issues.

Palin has called the book "a bunch of BS from [McCain campaign manager Steve] Schmidt and those guys," Palin said. "It's pretty made up."

In the Fox interview, Palin said she receives daily e-mails from experts on topical issues that have helped become "more astute" than she was during the 2008 election campaign.

soundoff(220 Responses)

mims

Dear God!!!

February 7, 2010 07:19 pm at 7:19 pm |

bonnie

There will be a mass exodus to Canada if Sarah Palin ever becomes President. I grant that she isn't stupid, but she's uneducated, simplistic and power hungry. Can anyone possibly imagine her handling sensitive diplomatic situations? A wink and a "gotcha" will not quite cut it. Being President of the United States is one of the most difficult jobs ever, especially in these complicated times, and she simply doesn't have the intellectual capability (whether one agrees with her policies, whatever they may be), nor the staying power...she's apparently quit every job she's had so far.
Dear fellow citizens, do not be sucked in by her rhetoric...she simply would be a disaster.

February 7, 2010 07:20 pm at 7:20 pm |

B

This women is beyond delusional ....

Ego to the extreme, without the intelligence.

February 7, 2010 07:23 pm at 7:23 pm |

Willow

Wasn't it the last "conservative" president who drove the nation off the cliff?

Sure, Palin, the GOP distraction, would be a great candidate to represent the Party Of No! Only problem is she is nothing more than a "smoke and mirrors" illusion crafted to mask the dysfunctional condition of the GOP.

I for one hope they do nominate her, it will make the job of dems and independents so much easier!

Go For It!!!!!!

February 7, 2010 07:23 pm at 7:23 pm |

Ravi

I absolutely LOVE this lady! She's intelligent, thoughtful, classy, and down to earth. I'll never understand why so many people hate her :(.

February 7, 2010 07:25 pm at 7:25 pm |

SOUTHERN HOTTIE

wow.
i am speechless.
this lady is nuts-o-la!

February 7, 2010 07:32 pm at 7:32 pm |

Cecilia

Ms. Palin,
Maybe your intentions are noble, but the country can do without them.
Limit yourself to be a good mother to your children and a good spouse.
When your heart is not so full of hatred and racism and bigotry, then think of doing some thing in the political level.
Now please do not, you are a big joke and a discredit to American women and decent people. Stay in Wasila and get yourself educated.
Stay home......Please.............

February 7, 2010 07:33 pm at 7:33 pm |

mavcal

Palin runs for Prez and she will get my vote. Not because of her politics because I don't like some of her ideas but because it's about time to put a woman in the White House as President even if it is Palin. At least she governed a State – something Obama never did. And the only reason smooth talking Obama is in the White House is because of his gender and the need to "make history" because of his color. Well, now it's time to make history again. Besides, Obama will lose badly in he next election. He can stay in front of that camera that he loves so much and yap away, it isn't going to make any difference. He's a one term loser.

February 7, 2010 07:35 pm at 7:35 pm |

tiff of lithia springs

Cha ching! Yea for Sarah. Obama needs another for years and 10 miracles to clean up Bushes mess!

February 7, 2010 07:47 pm at 7:47 pm |

Tammy, Kentucky

Honestly, are you serious?! This woman doesn't have enough brains to run a state let alone a country. She's just where she belongs. On a TV show. Our government is in enough trouble without adding a cheerleader to the program.

February 7, 2010 07:49 pm at 7:49 pm |

mario ca.

Dead fish with no brain

February 7, 2010 07:52 pm at 7:52 pm |

Hiram

My favorite thing about her cheat-sheets is how she wrote "Budget Cuts" and the crossed out "budget" and wrote "tax." Tax cuts without budget cuts is exactly what Republicans do, and is exactly what got us in this mess. If you're going to increase the budget - and they will, they always do - the fiscally responsible thing is to increase taxes as well. Sarah's brain is so dim that she can't remember three very basic ideas. It's not even like she was writing down budget numbers. And when asked for her plans, one of her first ideas of a plan is to "pray for divine intervention." I don't care if anybody believes in some supernatural big buddy... but when they RELY on them to run the country, that's going a bit too far with the wish-craft. Sarah Palin is a joke, and I hope the Republicans are stupid enough to run her in 2012, because there's no better guarantee of a second term for Obama. They like her so much they can't even see what a completely ridiculous candidate she is.

February 7, 2010 07:52 pm at 7:52 pm |

beth

HA HA HA HA HA HA with Kate Gosselin for her VP....HA HA HA HA HA HA.....talk about the US becoming an embarrassment. Yeah and her qualifications are what exactly? Um, she can write both her first and last name in 'cursive'...with a little heart above the I. HA HA HA HA HA HA...thanks for making my day.

February 7, 2010 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

hongli

The only House that Sarah Palin could run for and win is the "OUT-HOUSE" and that's where she belongs.

February 7, 2010 07:54 pm at 7:54 pm |

Liz

Yay! More material for Tina Fey! And a guarantee of 4 more years of Obama! I say Go For It Sarah!

February 7, 2010 07:56 pm at 7:56 pm |

Robert

Observers are indeed worried. Where is the Front Page or Ticker about Palin reading off her cheating notes written on her palm during the Q&A section of her Tea party address? I can believe CNN and mainstream media who are so eager to give credibility to Palin when we all can see through her nonsense. Bashing someone about being only good at the teleprompter only to turn around and write cheat note on her palm to get by q&a section, that is amazing stuff.
What bothers me is the media repeating the same lame stuff that brought us Iraq. The media is useless–especially CNN

February 7, 2010 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |

Hugo

Good lord how funny are the posts about reading her "cheat" notes on her hand??? Our current President can't even give a speech to school children without his teleprompter, and you want to make reference to notes on Palins hand, anyone see the irony? Here it is again so those of you that aren't quite educated enough or intelligent enough to figure it out, the tea party is comprised of a massive population of disillusioned tax payers. I know that precludes most of you from joining, they are sick of government waste and they are made up of all colors, and come from all walks of life, Democrats, Independents and Republicans. They are sick of a bunch of elected lawyers (mostly) securing their futures through special interest and lobbyist bribes (aka campaign contributions) at the cost of our Nations jobs, well being and security. The Teabaggers will determine the next President and it will most likely not be Barry unless he stops spending and pulls a golden rabbit out of his hat. We are broke, we have 20% unemployed and those that are employed are mostly on the government tax nipple. I know it is hard for many of you, but you do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out the end of the story given the scenario...

February 7, 2010 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |

Economist

Why not? She doesn't have any chance of winning, but I'm sure she'll make even more money off of it.

February 7, 2010 08:03 pm at 8:03 pm |

1959

SARAH, PLEASE RUN, go ahead make my day!

February 7, 2010 08:06 pm at 8:06 pm |

Larry

A legend in her own mind

She couldn't win "Gopher Of The Month"

Go home Sarah, and shoot coyotes from helicopters

We certainly don't want or need the likes of you down here where intelligent people reside